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Airgas Announces Leadership Changes In South Region And Airgas Refrigerants

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) today announced that Kevin M. McBride has been named President – Airgas South Region, and Emmanuel Dupree has been named President – Airgas Refrigerants, Inc. McBride succeeds Chuck Broadus who was recently promoted to President – Airgas South Division, and Dupree succeeds Ted Schulte who is retiring at the end of the month after nearly 16 years of executive leadership at Airgas.

McBride was most recently President – Airgas Great Lakes Region, headquartered in Cleveland, OH, one of 13 regions that make up the Airgas USA, LLC distribution business. He served in that capacity beginning in June 2007. In his new role as President – South Region, McBride will lead Airgas’ efforts in an area that spans from southern Tennessee and eastern Mississippi through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Airgas’ South Region headquarters is located in Kennesaw, GA.

McBride joined Airgas in March 2007 as Vice President of Business Development for Airgas Merchant Gases, after serving as vice president and general manager of the Linde Bulk Business Group, which Airgas acquired in March 2007 forming Airgas Merchant Gases. He started working at AGA (later acquired by Linde) in 1982, gaining extensive sales and management experience. Among his other roles were manager of on-site sales, regional manager, and general manager for process sales. In 2005, he was named vice president South Atlantic region for Linde Gas. McBride began his career as a sales representative and sales manager with Air Products & Chemicals. He graduated from the University of South Florida with bachelor’s degrees in marketing and management.

“Kevin has been very successful in leading the Great Lakes region for the past six years,” said Chuck Broadus, President – Airgas South Division. “With Kevin’s leadership, the Great Lakes Region has been Airgas’ top-performing region for two of the last three years and last year came in a close second. Rankings are based on organic sales growth, EBITDA growth, and safety excellence. Kevin is returning to an area where he has worked and lived before and I’m pleased to be working with him as we continue to grow Airgas’ business in the South Region.”